The short answer is no. Using a unique SIM PIN will help you keep your info private if case your phone is stolen. If you keep the default SIM PIN on, you make it easier for the thief to guess that code.
We suggest enabling SIM card lock in the settings to add an extra layer of security to protect your SIM card on Android if your device has a SIM card slot. The SIM card lock has been on top budget Android phones for years, but many people are unaware of the feature.
All kinds of phones are vulnerable, including both iPhones and Android devices. Simjacker even works on embedded SIM cards (eSIMs).
You can't make calls or send texts
The first sign that you could be a victim of SIM swapping is when your phone calls and text messages aren't going through. This likely means fraudsters have deactivated your SIM card and are using your phone number.
Turning use of PIN on or off
The PIN protects your SIM from unauthorised use if your phone should get stolen. If use of PIN is turned on, it needs to be keyed in when you turn on your phone.
The PIN is a 4-digit number that is saved directly to your SIM card, so it follows the SIM even if you switch it into a new phone or another device. You can lock a phone with a passcode, but if you don't have a SIM PIN you can't protect your SIM if it is stolen.
Why do people SIM swap? There are plenty of reasons why you would SIM swap. Say you've lost your phone or bought a new one – but your old SIM card doesn't fit. Or maybe your SIM card got damaged, or you got a better deal with a new operator.
If your phone has a SIM card, it may store your personal information. Remove the SIM card. If you'll keep the same phone number, you may be able to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. But if you don't re-use the SIM card, destroy it.
Removing and inserting your SIM card is a simple process, and it can help if you're experiencing certain issues, like a frozen screen or browser connection problems. It's also a good idea to remove your SIM card if you're selling your old phone, sending it out for repairs, or trading it in for a new model.
Click Settings. Select Security. Select Set up SIM card lock. Toggle the SIM card lock feature On or Off.
The SIM card on your mobile phone will become locked if you enter an incorrect personal identification number (PIN) three times. You won't be able to use your phone, except for emergency calls. To unlock it you must reset your PIN by entering your SIM card's unique unlock key (also called a PIN unblocking key or PUK).
Lock your SIM card with a PIN (personal identification number) so an identification code is required to make phone calls and use mobile data. To stop other people using your SIM card to make phone calls or use mobile data, you can use a SIM PIN.
1. Default SIM Pin code of Sprint and T-Mobile is 1234. 2. Default SIM Pin code of AT&T and Verizon is 1111.
(upper-right). The default SIM PIN is 1111.
You do not need the old SIM card installed in the new iPhone to transfer data. This can be done over a Wi-Fi Network. Eventually you will need the old SIM card installed in the new iPhone to setup the Messages and FaceTime apps that use your phone number.
Usually, the clearest sign that a SIM card was targeted by a hacker is that calls or text messages aren't coming through. This includes an inability to make calls or send texts, as well as not receiving incoming calls or texts.
SIM Card Tracking
Even a dumb phone (i.e. not a smartphone) can track you through the SIM card. SIM cards connect to nearby signal towers for you to receive calls and send SMS texts, but that signal can be used to find out your location.
Mysterious apps, calls, or texts appear: A potential telltale sign that your phone has been hacked is the appearance of new apps that you didn't download, along with spikes in data usage that you can't account for. Likewise, if you see calls in your phone's call log that you didn't make, that's a warning as well.
It contains your phone number, which is connected to your account with your wireless provider, and it houses a SIM, which connects your phone to a wireless network. But everything else stays on your phone when you remove the SIM card.